Oh, the Blessedness
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Joy in Spite of the Circumstances
How do we continue to have joy in our lives in spite of the circumstances?
Let’s look at the word that means “to be blessed.”
Psalm 1:1a ESV:
Blessedis the man [person]….
You could translate verse one, “Oh the blessedness,” or the “heaped up happiness.”
Psalm 1:1a NLT:
Oh, the joys of those….
Psalm 1:1a AMPCE:
BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man.…
The Hebrew word for the word “blessed” comes from a root verb that means “to go straight forward or to proceed on a path.” To be blessed, a person is encouraged to do something, to proceed on a path. What’s interesting is that almost every place this Hebrew word is used, there is also a promise or a benefit. Something that we get in return for doing what it says to do.
We’ve talked elsewhere about how joy is a fruit of the spirit; it’s an inside job.
Joy also comes from what we do and what we think.
Let’s look at five things we are encouraged to do that will result in joy in our lives. The first thing we’ll look at is how to walk in His ways.
1. Walk in God’s Ways
The blessings described in the first Psalm come to those who follow the path of the godly. It starts out as a negative thing.
Psalm 1:1 ESV:
Blessed is the man [person] who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
There’s a progression here of walk, stand, and sit. It shows how an ungodly person can progress to the point of being a scorner. They first live (walk) in the way or path of the world. Then their thoughts start lining up with that. That’s how they end up sitting or being seated as a mocker of God’s truth. But now we have the contrast:
Psalm 1:2 ESV:
but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Meditating on God’s Word means mulling over what is read, thinking about it, and contemplating it.
One way to walk in God’s path is to meditate on the Word.
Psalm 1:3 ESV:
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers [will accomplish something].
This is a picture of an oriental garden that is watered by irrigation ditches. The amount of water is controlled by the gardener. The gardener determines how much water the garden will get.
When you see the word “blessed” now, you can think “oh the joy!” The joys of being able to delight in the law (Word) of the Lord, we will be able to accomplish His purposes and that we desire in our lives.
Psalm 112:–21 ESV:
1 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man [person] who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Psalm 128:1 ESV:
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!
Now here’s the promise:
Psalm 128:2 ESV:
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
2. Trust in God
Psalm 34:8–9 ESV:
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
Psalm 84:12 ESV:
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
The promise is in the previous verse.
Psalm 84:11 ESV:
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
3. Spend time in God’s presence, worship
Psalm 89:15–17 NLT:
15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord. 16 They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation. They exult in your righteousness. 17 You are their glorious strength. It pleases you to make us strong.
Proverbs 8:34–35 ESV:
34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord,
4. Seek Wisdom and understanding
Let’s look at a section that personifies wisdom as a woman.
Proverbs 3:13–18 ESV:
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
5. Do Good or Give
Psalm 41:1–3 ESV:
1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; 2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. 3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.
Matthew 5:2–10 APNT:
2 And he [Jesus] opened his mouth and was teaching them and said,
3 “Blessed [are] the poor in spirit,36 because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed [are] the mourners, because they will be comforted.
5 Blessed [are] the meek, because they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed [are] those who hunger and thirst for uprightness, because they will be satisfied.
7 Blessed [are] the merciful, because on them will be mercies.
8 Blessed [are] those who are pure in their heart[s], because they will see God.
9 Blessed [are] the peacemakers, because they will be called the sons of God.
10 Blessed [are] those who are persecuted because of uprightness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
A different word for “blessed” is used in Ephesians 1:3, but it still sums up the idea.
Ephesians 1:3 APNT:
Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heaven in Christ
If we trust Him, then no good thing does He withhold. If we spend time in His presence, then He makes us strong. If we seek wisdom and understanding, then we walk on a path of peace.
Oh, the blessedness! Oh, the joys!
Scripture References
Scripture quotations marked (AMPCE) taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
Scripture quotations marked (APNT) taken from the Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation: With explanatory footnotes marking variant readings, customs and figures of speech, Copyright © 2006 by Janet M. Magiera, Light of the Word Ministry, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.lightofword.org)
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, USA. All rights reserved.
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